DATE= 12/3/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223633
TITLE=U-S/DRUGS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S DRUG POLICY DIRECTOR BARRY MCCAFFREY SAYS IT WILL
TAKE TEN YEARS OF INTENSE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS
TO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE DEMAND AND CONSUMPTION OF ILLEGAL DRUGS
IN THE UNITED STATES. THE U-S DRUG CZAR MADE THE COMMENT
WEDNESDAY AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY WASHINGTON CONFERENCE THAT
BROUGHT TOGETHER FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL OFFICIALS FROM
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. VOA'S BILL RODGERS HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: NATIONAL DRUG POLICY DIRECTOR MCCAFFREY SAYS SIX PERCENT
OF THE MORE THAN 250-MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES
ARE BELIEVED TO BE USING ILLEGAL DRUGS. DESPITE THIS HIGH
PERCENTAGE, THE U-S DRUG CZAR BELIEVES PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TO
REDUCE DEMAND AND CONSUMPTION. HOWEVER, HE SAYS IT WILL TAKE A
LONG-TERM STRATEGY TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE PROBLEM.
/// MCCAFFREY ACT ///
WHAT WE'RE ARGUING FOR IS A TEN YEAR RATIONAL EFFORT
THAT WATCHES NUMBERS AND ADJUSTS POLICY, SO THAT WE CAN
END UP A DECADE FROM NOW WITH A THIRD OF THE DRUG USE
WE'RE NOW THREATENED BY. AND I WILL BET YOU, AND THESE
PEOPLE FROM ACROSS AMERICA ARE TELLING ME -- WE CAN
ACHIEVE THAT, THAT'S OUR PURPOSE.
///END ACT///
GENERAL MCCAFFREY SPOKE WEDNESDAY AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY
CONFERENCE OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ANTI-DRUG OFFICIALS.
MOST OF THESE OFFICIALS COME FROM 22 PLACES ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS HIGH-INTENSITY DRUG
TRAFFICKING AREAS, OR "HIDTAS". A REPORT WAS RELEASED AT THE END
OF THE CONFERENCE DESCRIBING THE STRATEGIES IN EACH OF THESE
LOCALES FOR CONFRONTING THE DRUG THREAT.
THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE REGIONAL COORDINATION OF ANTI-DRUG
EFFORTS IN THE UNITED STATES. ACCORDING TO GENERAL MCCAFFREY,
THE DESIGNATION OF THESE HIGH-INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS --
THE FIRST FIVE OF WHICH WERE CREATED IN 1990 -- AND THE INCREASED
FUNDING THEY ARE NOW RECEIVING -- REPRESENT A MAJOR NEW
INITIATIVE BY THE U-S GOVERNMENT.
///MCCAFFREY ACT///
THE BEST WAY TO LOOK AT THE NEW EFFORT IS 25 MILLION
(DOLLARS) TO 160 MILLION, FIVE HIDTAS TO 22, A GROWING
RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS NOT A FEDERALLY-DIRECTED
PROGRAM, BUT A FEDERALLY-SUPPORTED EFFORT BASED ON
REGIONAL COUNTER-DRUG EFFORTS.... THIS IS A MAJOR
INITIATIVE OF THE U-S GOVERNMENT TO COMMITT OURSELVES TO
COORDINATED REGIONAL EFFORTS IN THE COUNTERDRUG ARENA.
///END ACT///
ONE CONCLUSION REACHED AT THE CONFERENCE IS THAT THE DRUG MENACE
IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING. THAT IS, AS LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS GAIN
GROUND AGAINST THE PRODUCTION AND TRAFFICKING OF ONE KIND OF DRUG
-- ANOTHER TAKES ITS PLACE.
/// REST OPT ///
THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE OF METHAMPHETAMINE, WHICH CONFERENCE
PARTICIPANTS SAY IS RAPIDLY REPLACING COCAINE AS A NEW THREAT.
THE SHERIFF OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, LARRY SMITH TOLD V-O-A
METHAMPHETAMINE HAS BECOME THE DRUG OF CHOICE FOR MANY YOUNG
PEOPLE.
///SMITH ACT///
METHAMPHETAMINE IS EASIER AND CHEAPER TO PRODUCE THAN
COCAINE. IT CAN BE PRODUCED DOMESTICALLY AND HAS BEEN.
IT IS BECOMING THE DRUG OF CHOICE AMONG A LOT OF THE
YOUTH AND IT HAS GAINED WIDESPREAD ACCEPTANCE IN THE
HEARTLAND OF AMERICA. IT HAS SIMPLY BECOME THE DRUG OF
CHOICE AMONG A LOT OF YOUNG USERS.
///END ACT///
ALLUDING TO THE SPREAD OF DRUGS LIKE METHAMPHETAMINE, GENERAL
MCCAFFREY CHARACTERIZED AMERICA'S DRUG PROBLEM AS A SERIES OF
LOCAL EPIDEMICS THAT ARE BEST ADDRESSED WITH LOCAL STRATEGIES.
(SIGNED)
NEB/WFR/MMK
03-Dec-97 3:45 PM EST (2045 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.